Toy and securing means therefor



July 14, 1931. M. J. NAPIER TOY AND SECURING MEANS THEREFQR Filed Oct.4, 1930 m V J mi, .9 MM 1 3W V J. mv/iv Mk 4 m ow I Patented July 14,1931 UNITED STATES .MELVIN J. NAPIER, OF'AKRON, OHIO TOY AND SECURINGMEANS THEREFOR Application filed October 4, 1930. Serial 160.486, 152.

My invention relates to toy and securing means therefor and it hasparticular relation to toy balloons or similar inflatable articles andvacuum cup securing means I wherein at least a portion of the inflatingmeans for the article is formed in or carried by the securing means.

It is desirable to produce toy balloons, either of the usual shape orshaped to simulate various different animals or articles that may beinflated and immediately secured to any desired su port.

An object o my invention is to provide a vacuum cup support having aninflating passage therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cup supporthaving an inflating passage formed therein and a valve disposed inclosing relation to the passage.

4 Another object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cup support foran inflatable object having an inflating passage so formed therein thatsuch an object mounted thereon in inflated condition seals the passage.Another object of my invention is to provide at attachment for a balloonwhich is formed to comprise both a filling nozzle and a vacuum cupsupport for the balloon. A further object of my invention is theprovision of a vacuum cup formed for simple attachment to a conventionalballoon valve to serve as an inflating nozzle and a support for theballoon.

For better understanding of my invenu-tion reference may now be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of disclosure, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a bal- 10011 and support thereforembodying certain features of my invention, a portion being broken awaytoillustrate underlying portions in section.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention; andFigure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of application ofmy invention to conventional balloon valves.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 of theaccompanying drawings, a conventional toy balloon l. is

- relation thereto.

operatively mounted upon a combined inflating nozzle and support 2 byengagement of the portions 3 thereof within a groove 4 formed on thesupport.

' Preferably, and as shown, the support 2 is constructed wholly ofrubber or other. material having similar characteristics molded in thedesired form with a passage 5 extending from the cup-shaped bottom 6 toa point 7 at the side of-the support which is alwayscovered by the neck8 of the balloon. e

It is to be noted that the shape of the bottom 6 makes possible theattachment of the balloon, and its support 2 to practically any desiredsurface by means of a vacuum created in the cup. The creation .of thedesired vacuum is augmented by the-valve action of the neck 8 of theballoon with respect to the passage 5. When the bottom 6 is flattenedagainst a supporting surface air from the cup is permitted to pass out,th-roughthe passage 5, but no air can pass into the passage and cup.

Theembodiment of the invention illus-' trated in Figure'2 of thedrawings differs;v

from that described above in that the desired valve action is obtainedin a different manner. A passage 9 extends from the cup 6 directlythrough the support 2 and a thin rubber balloon-like member 10 ispositioned over the end 11 of the support 2 in gripping The balloon l ispositioned over the member 10 in the same manner as shown in Figure 1.Since the member 10 is shorter than theneck 8 ofthe. balloon airentering through the passage -9 passes-first between the support Qandthe member 10 and then between the latter and the neck 8 into theballoon. Themember 10, however, acts as a valve preventing passage ofair from the balloon 1 to the cup 6.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 of thedrawings a vacuum supporting member 12 having an air passage 13 formedtherethrough is shaped, as indicated at 14:, to fit within a recess 15formed in a conventional balloon valve 16. As shown. the valve 16 has athin rubber strip 17 passing over the'end of an air passage 18,

formed therein and has its ends secured. as indicated at 19, to thevalve.

Obviously a strip, such as shown at 17. could be utilized in lieu of themember 10 in the construction shown in Figure 2. In this event the endsof the strip would be secured by the neck 8 oi the balloon and air wouldbe admitted directlyto theinterior of'bal loon.

I regard the provision of a vacuum cup with a valve to expedite the'prodiic'tio'r'f of'a" vacuum in the cup as an important feature of myinvention. This feature is involved in all of the embodiments of theinvention herein described.

Although Ihave illustrated only certain forms which my{ invention mayassume, and" have described'those forms in detail, it w'ill be apparentto those skilled in. theart that the invention is notso limited butithat various minor modifications maybe made, therein without departingfrom the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: r A

1. A support for'an inflatable article coinprising a portion formed forinsertion within the article, and a vacuum cup attaching portion,whereinthe support is formed with. an air passage'extending from the c'up'ofthe attaching portion tothe exterior of the portion formed foriiisertionin the article.

2. A support comprising aportion formed for insertion withinan'inflatable article and a vacuum cup attaching portion wherein thesupport has an. air passage extending from the cup-shaped portion to theexterior of. the first mentioned portion and so disposed as to be closedby the article. e

An inflating nozzle for ah inflatable article comprising a body formedfor partial'insertion within the article and'with a; flexible"cup-shaped attaching portion and" having'a passage extending from the'cupshaped portion through the'body; c

4. An inflating nozzle for. an ihflatalole article comprising a bodformed with a flexible cup-shaped attacl iing portion' and having apassage extending from the cupshaped portion through the body and valvemeans associated with the passage;

5. An inflating nozzle for a balloon'comprisinga portion shaped forinsertionlwithin the neck of a balloon and a flexible vacuum cupattaching portibn,a passage'extending from the cup through the firstnamed portion and a. balloon-like member fitting over apart of the"first name'd" poition'."

c. An inflating nozzle for a balloon com prising a portion shaped forinsertion" with-' in the neck of a balloon; and a flexible cii'p shapedportion','. a passage exten'dirig from the cup-sha ed portion throughthe fir s tl named portiom and a flexible strip dispbsd MELVIN J.NAPIER.

